I'm on Vacay! See you in 2010!

Happy Holidays Wanna be's!

The ogre will be on vacation throughout the "whitemanconqueredthenewworld" Day and Baby Jesus "pimped out" Birthday holiday!  I will return on January 2, 2010 beginning with fashion tips for dressing in recession, followed by the awards season countdown so don't miss it! If you have any suggestions, stories, giveaways or just want to say hello, then send me a holla!  Until then, be safe, stay sane and for God's sake, don't wear anything ugly!

Geek Chic!

Jeremy
Originally uploaded by BriAnne.Wills

I never thought that the "Geek" look would ever be in again! But since fashion does go in cycles, here it is again! The look of the 80's nerd is hot again! Cue the techno music and synthesizer theme songs, and picture penny loafers, argyle vests and Izod shirts with the collar turned up. Throw in a bow tie or "wide" tie and vest along with large rimmed glasses and you've got a runway show! Think of any character in the Harry Potter series, the trendy Gossip Girl series or the hit series (and one of my favorites) Glee! Peruse The Gap, American Eagle Outfitters, American Apparel or any thrift store in your area and you can put together a chic yet "Nerdy" ensemble.

Mad Men Season 3 Fashion File

Hello Wanna Be's! I took a brief (and much needed) vacation to ponder life as we know it, and to obsess once again about "Mad Men"! Season 3 was amazing and boy did we find out some dirt! But as always, the fashions were fierce! Check out the AMC blog and throw yourselves back to a time when men wore suits and women wore scarves and gloves!

Smell like Me!

Usher - perfume
Originally uploaded by SerenityF

With the influx of celebrity perfumes and scents, are any of them any good? Or are they just another financial outlet for celebrities to afford their million dollar penthouses and off shore yachts? Or maybe they finance their lifestyle for those "in between projects" times. Think about it; do you really want to smell like Usher or Sean Combs? Did you get a Shania Twain gift basket last Christmas and immediately run to the bathroom to put on the body lotion? Does a Reese Witherspoon perfume strike your fancy? How about Carmen Elektra or Paris Hilton? Granted, there are some perfumes that may look like they smell good such as Halle Berry, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and others ad nauseum; but are they really worth it? I don't know about you but in these economic times, I am going to stick with Bath and Bodyworks "neutral" gift giving, instead of paying for some celebrity's kid's private school tuition!

Are those really your jeans?

Acid wash Jeans.
Originally uploaded by milkmoonxo

I stated in a previous blog that there are some things that should NEVER come back in style...anything neon, the Jerri Curl and Acid wash jeans! Whoever said that these were fashionable in the 80's (and trust me, they were not) was seriously high. And forgive me, but Michael Jordan knows better at his age, to wear jeans that he wore 25 years ago! Not a good look Michael! Stop I say! Stop!

Fierce Skateboard Fashion

fashion furious
Originally uploaded by livoric

The only thing that matters to the "tween" set currently, are video games, movies and skateboards; even girls of this age group dress the part of skateboard groupies. The skateboard culture is sort of like the "goth" culture in the 80's, but more fashion forward. Screen Tees, baseball caps, skinny jeans, skate shoes, wild hair and the occasional jeans worn down below the but-crack line. Some notable lines for skateboard clothes are as follows:

* DC Shoes
* Zoo York
* Volcom
* Dickies
* Vans
* Hawk Clothing
* Lrg

Also, check out Borders for skate gear of all kind as well as notable fashion lines.

Celebrate World Aids Day with Valentino Red!

The Best Red Dress by Valentino Garavani
Originally uploaded by Mag&lliott

I don't own a Valentino gown (I just love Valentino), but I am sporting my red sweater today in support of World Aids Day! I had an HIV test in October...when was your last HIV test? Let's educate and Live!

Brow Wow

Hi brow, low brow, thin brow, bleach brow, uni-brow, no-brow...Which do you prefer? The trend on the runways (again) is the shape of the eyebrow.  Now, personally, I have had "bushy" eyebrows before (which was once all the rage), and I have had brows arched to the heavens...but I have never had "zero" brows! No brows what-so-ever is what rocks the catwalk now! I can't believe that it is fashionable to look like the Bride of Frankenstein, but apparently this look is very haute coutour!  Pat McGrath (I am her stalker) reinvented this look from the 1970's for the Spring 2009 shows and every one *gulp* loved it! Fashion is all about risks, but I don't know if I can take a razor to my face (especially if I don't have to)! But guess what...you don't have to! Many of the models on the runway use something like molding clay to mask their brows (hey, we do it in the Theater all the time) or they put heavy makeup on them.   But how long will this trend stay? Who knows...but for now it is rocking the runways!

Fabulous Black Friday...Deals Not So Fabulous

Black Friday Ads 2009 on Amazon
Originally uploaded by bestbuyproducts

There were many adds prior to the Holiday touting the amazing deals that were to be had on the Friday after Turkey Day. It turns out the hoopla and the anticipation were both overrated! Too bad;  the "tent people" (people who camped out the night before the Friday sales) could have stayed in their warm and comfy beds and joined the jamboree at 7:00 rather than 5:00! For the most part, there were a few deals but none over flowing.

For instance Game Stop allowed you to advance order an XBox 360 Elite with expanded memory for $299; you basically could put the system in lay-away for six weeks with as little as $25 down.  I personally took advantage of this little steal! Since electronics and gaming systems are all the rage every holiday season, the grand papa of electronics, Best Buy, offered name brand 32" Plasma T.V.'s for as low as $299, and an XBox 360 Elite Holiday Bundle for $299 - the bundle included 2 packaged games: Lego Batman and Pure, then 4 additional games!

On the beauty/fashion side of things, I wasn't so impressed.  Macy's had some OK deals on shoes - up to 40% off; but many of the styles were last season and the name brands were maybe $20-$30 off the regular price. There were many "beauty bundles" available disguised as "gift sets" all over the place, but no real deals on name brand cosmetics.

So Tent People, for future reference, check out the many steals"online" instead of waiting "in line!"  Until the recession is over folks there won't be many deals on the horizon.

Mad Men Design Inspiration

BH&G 1961 Contemporary
Originally uploaded by vintagegoodness

Ooh and Whee! It is no secret that I love AMC's Mad Men (see previous posts). The T.V. show has given way to all things retro; history, fashions and design! Mmmm....can't you smell the formica? Take a trip down memory lane by grabbing an old family photo album or walk into any furniture store; and before you can say "H.R. Puffin Stuff", you have been transported back in time! Look at the pretty colors! Ikea always has great design ideas that feature the geometric shapes of the 60's. Or for more down to earth appeal, try Rooms to Go or Living Spaces. All of these furniture stores have online sites as well...cool baby!

YMEMKY7YB2N3

Lady GaGa: A shock to the system!

Lady GaGa
Originally uploaded by M1ARifles.com

I love Lady GaGa! Stefani (her real name) has turned the music and the fashion industry on it's ass! Just like Madonna did 25 years ago, Lady GaGa is shocking, scaring, and amazing everyone....especially me. It isn't that she is doing or wearing anything original, but she is having fun and it shows. She takes risks without courting "The Fame" but she gladly welcomes it. She is glam rock, disco and Studio 54 all rolled up into one hell of a musician. She has brought back performance art in fashion - the outrageous, the fun and the daring. You go GaGa!

Air Jordan Retro XI 2009 Space Jam...Again!

Air Jordan Retro XI 2009 Space Jam
Originally uploaded by Sneaker Maniac

I remember when the Michael Jordan "Space Jam" shoes were introduced in 1996.  As a native of Chicago, I have had a crush on Michael Jordan since I was 17! The man is dipped in chocolate waiting to be devoured...oh sorry! I just had a small hallucination; Anyway, the shoes made their debut the same time that the movie opened and became a part of the Michael Jordan sport shoe dynasty.  Mike's shoes are not only legendary but a collector's wet dream!  There are many sites dedicated to the collector of MJ's shoes so you can always check those out, or go on ebay to take your chances, but beware! These kicks aren't cheap; The retail price starts at $175!  That's a lot of shopping trips to the mall and yogurtland.

After the Madness...

Well wanna be's, I think I am over my Jimmy Choo shopping "smack down."   As I mentioned in the previous post, the fiasco that was the opening of the Jimmy Choo line at H&M, was more like opening night of the WWE!  Horrible coordination by H&M staff, unruly shoppers, limited space in the store for regular shoppers (let alone those shopping the Jimmy Choo line), long lines at the registers and overall...exhausting! But in the end, my persistence (and callous-preventing shoe insoles) prevailed and I went home with my pair of candy apple red Jimmy Choo shoes!

1000 wanna be's line up for Jimmy Choo...Was it worth it?

It was estimated that over 1000 people lined up for the unveiling of the Jimmy Choo line at H&M at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles today.  Some wanna be's slept in the parking lot of the mall to be one of the first to be given the "golden wristbands" that granted them the privilege of shopping the collection first. Well, it didn't go as smoothly as anyone hoped.  More of the fiasco after the jump.
The event itself would have made Carrie Bradshaw push aside her Manolos...but the poor coordination of the the crowd (once inside of the store), soured the entire experience.  For starters, the coveted wristbands were given to the first 160 people in line. The stores did not open until 10:00 am, but no one (not even wristband holders) were allowed inside of the store until 10:15.  Once the wristband holders were inside of the store, they were allowed to shop the collection until 12:15 - the wanna be's would be allowed in after that.   During this time, H&M security (wearing FBI issued black suits) allowed groups of the general public inside to shop around the store (not the collection).   At first, the coordination seemed to working like clockwork; a few shoppers were let in so that the store didn't get too crowded...but then the H&M powers that be (dressed in Purple Jimmy Choo T-shirts) told security to let ALL of the people in! So basically, the remaining line of oh, 150 people went running like a stampede into the already crowded store!Once the herd was corraled inside, the first thing you saw was that the front of the store was a free for all; several fashion items were brought out on the arms of employees (who had to be thinking that H&M doesn't pay them enough to put up with this kind of madness), who put the clothes on racks and let the rabid shoppers pounce! People were throwing clothes left and right! As quickly as the clothes were gone, they were replenished.  Yes, that is a good thing; but bad when you have people on top of people and no order of service!

"Mad Men" Threads

60's Fashion Montage by Karen62 on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Pages.prototypevintage.com dress
Poshgirlvintage.com dress
Pages.prototypevintage.com dress
Poshgirlvintage.com dress
Poshgirlvintage.com dress

The 60's are back with a vengeance due to "Mad Men" mania!  I wasn't born until (well never you mind); but I remember the hats my great-grandmother had and the pointed-toed shoes, and the swing coats that she wore.  Even my grandmother inherited he mother's sense of style; she had fabulous coats, shoes galore and BIG HAIR!  Many of these Mod fashions can still be seen on the runway in both clothes as well as accessories.  So go rummage through your grandmother's closet; you may find some really "it" items!

4 Days and Counting...

Hey Wanna Be's! The Ogre is currently working on some entries for the blog while still working for "Da Man." There are only 4 days left until Jimmy Choo makes its debut at H&M! Be sure to check which stores in your area will carry the Brand, because not all H&M stores will. 

4 Days and Counting....*Cue evil Austin Powers voice*

Say it ain't so! Vogue get's hit by the Recession!

Condé’s Cuts Come to Vogue


This is sort of a fashion blog post...almost.  But I could not believe that "The Bible" got hit by job cuts! I thought Anna Wintour had a special gang of cronies that kept the rag mag recession proof, but I guess not.  It is sad to hear not only for my favorite magazine, but for the millions of Americans who find themselves unemployed.  10% should be a dividend; not the highest unemployment rate since 1983!

Barbie Couture in Black

BarbieCollector.com - Welcome to the official Mattel site for Barbie Collector

If Byron Lars made shoelaces I would buy them! This African-American designer has been designing for Mattel for more than a decade and his doll designs are as fabulous as his fashion line for Beauty Mark.

Ooh...for the Smell of it!

There are many interesting people on the metro train. There are men and women who are dressed casually, and there are men and women who are dressed for work in their finest suits and ensembles, smelling to bloody high hell! Let me clarify...this isn't just bad "BO"; this is an attempt to cover up the BO with drugstore body sprays! With watering eyes I beg you all to please, please, please run far away from the Axe, Tag, and the Paco Rabban! And ladies do not wear the Jean Nate that you found when you pillaged your dead grandmother's closet!  Instead, try some refreshing and light sprays for both men and women. Bath and Body Works offers great scents and "splash" for the body for both men and women, that don't overpower the senses.  And the great Calvin Klein has an intoxicating body splash from the CK Fragrance line.  These are just several suggestions, but the real key is to wear something that is acceptable for the day, compatible with your body chemistry and doesn't come out and hit anyone over the head!  A body spray should be alluring and subtle! Not a chemical weapon of destruction.


  VKTG8PJV7MCK

Military Might

I just love the fact that the military trend NEVER goes out of style! More on how I love this look after the jump.
Look at this hip, trendy and funky looking military jacket...I purchased this jacket from The Limited in 1991! See wanna be's, there are many fashion staples that you can wear over, and over and over again. The runways still feature some of these pieces with many looks. I like to pair it with other trends that are hot now such as a ruffle collar shirt and a great pair of jeans. Let's give a really long distance shout out to the late Michael Jackson *insert flickering candle* for keeping the military trend alive and well! Now all I need is a rhinestone studded glove...

Foundation, Foundation, Foundation!

Ever since I was able to wear makeup at the age of 18 (I had a very strict grandmother), I have never, ever found the perfect foundation for my skin tone! Sure, I have found colors that almost match, that kinda look good in certain lighting and that are full of promises of a better complexion, but they were all lies! Take a look at the makeup I have collected over the years in this fashionable (albeit nasty) makeup case! I have "made do" with inadequate foundations until now.  I have found the perfect system for a really flawless complexion and brightens the skin naturally.  Smashbox is the answer for me! I love their foundation which feels like silk when I put it on and it doesn't cake up to make me look like a drag queen. The High Definition Healthy FX Foundation is what my face craves, the bronze pressed powder is not too drying, the Hybrid 2 in 1 luminizing primer is a canvasas' dream, and the Photo Op under eye brightener gets rid of the dark circles under my eyes after partying all night (not really). High Definition is all of the rage now, and Smashbox has taken the lead in this arena!  So, I guess I can clean out this makeup case now...

Only 2 Places to get Jimmy Choo in L.A.!

Well, after a short break to deal with a little "swine flu" scare, this Fashionista is back! Ok wanna be's, there are 11 days until Jimmy Choo comes to H & M.  I think in my delirium I tweeted today that the countdown was 14 days! Oh well...Unfortunately, if you live in Los Angeles, there are only 2 stores that will carry the line (at least that is what the general manager at the Beverly Center told me). Ok you can get your Choo fix at the following:

H &M Beverly Center
8500 Beverly Blvd. 
Los Angeles, CA. 90048
*The entire Jimmy Choo collection will be sold at this store*

*Queue will begin in front of the Quiznos*

H & M Sunset
8580 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA. 90069
*Only certain pieces from the Jimmy Choo line will be sold here*

*Queue will begin outside of the store*


Wanna be's,  be sure to know that you will be waiting in line for a bit! Stores do not open until 10:00 a.m.  See my previous post on how the queue will be handled at the Beverly Center location.

Faux Fur...For Real?

I like fur. I like real fur. There I said it.  More on my "guilty" pleasure after the jump.

Michael is it!

Last night was the premiere of Michael Jackson's concert film "This is it". Check out the "stylish" review from style.com at the link below.

Style.com blog

http://www.style.com/stylefile/2009/10/blasblog-the-it-crowd/


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The 80's are Back! OMG..

Everything old is new again in fashion; unfortunately we are recycling some things from a decade that should best stay buried! Consider the following as staples that should remain stuffed in the back of your closet: Shoulder pads, anything neon colored, wrap around belts (I think I still have mine from the 8th grade), and leg warmers. May these items rest in peace!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Jimmy Choo...Bless You!

I have just received notification that Jimmy Choo sales is following me on Twitter! Let's get this countdown going to the H&M unveiling! Now I need to go pimp slap somebody I'm so stoked! 19 days to go!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Children's Fashions are Fashionable

23 Piece Clothing Collection, Girl 4-5 yrs
Originally uploaded by SalvationArmy1

I always have difficulty finding fashionable kids clothing for my boys. When they were little, I shopped at Gap Kids and Old Navy; but the Holy Grail of Kids fashion was The Children's Place! My boys could be pimped out (and I use this term loosely), in the trendiest tops and bottoms without spending a fortune. It can be really difficult to find great looking clothes for boys, but The Children's Place has all of the latest skate board fashions, flannel tops, screen tees and hoodies. I love shopping here! Check out the Fall fashions at http://www.childrensplace.com

Jimmy Choo is coming to H & M! Yay!

On November 14th, wanna be fashionistas (like me) all over the country will become privy to the awesomeness that is Jimmy Choo!  Well, awesomeness on a budget that is.  H & M will unveil the collection to a butt load of people on November 14th, a la standing in "queue" until the stores open.  Only the first 160 wanna be's in line will receive a special bracelet (like Wonder Woman?) that will allow them to shop the collection first; all other losers may enter the stores, but will not be allowed to shop the collection until the wanna be's have pillaged everything...but will it be worth it?  Check it out for yourselves at  www.hm.com.

Ruffles and other stuff

I don't consider myself a "girlie girl" anymore, but I do love a good ruffle.  The runways are jam-packed with this retro style a la Laura Ashley.  However, there are a few rules to know before you have a ruffle spasm:

1. Choose a color that is suitable for you; you don't want to be full of pink ruffles that make you look as if your cat puked all over you!
2. Know where to have a ruffle.  If you are fairly tall with longer porportions, have at the ruffles. You would do well to wear them loosely on the bottom or full out around the neckline.  
3. If you are average height or under with uneven proportions, then please step away from too many ruffles! If you do not have a  long neck, then wearing too many ruffles around the neckline will make it look as if you are hiding behind a bush! And by all means, you don't want to wear any ruffles on the bottom... It would look like waves on the sea dancing on the wind. 
4. Don't over accessorize!  Ruffles need very little "dressing up," so be sure to leave the disco jewelry at home.
   

Who is THE American Designer?

I have a good knock knock joke.  "Knock, Knock. Who's there? American designer. American designer who? Exactly." Well, I said it was good and not necessarily funny.  Who is THE American designer? I must say that the old guard is still running the show so to speak. Lauren, Von Furstenburg, Hilfiger, Ellis, Klein, De La Renta. But where is the new guard?  Has anyone been able to hold a scepter to these veterans?  A few shine through in my opinion.  And by that, I mean that these are designers who maintain the illusion that we as ordinary "Joe Shmo's " can afford and look good in these masterpieces- There is no room for "elitist" fashion in this economy.   Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors are my favorites, because they have the audacity to design clothes for the ordinary person that looks as if you could walk the red carpet full stop.  Vera Wang always hits a home run with her simplistic yet elegant designs that go beyond wedding gowns; personally, I am glad that she "branched out" because I was a little salty about weddings (I am selling my wedding gown on Ebay soon).  Tom Ford is like the Prince of all that he surveys (with his drop dead gorgeous ass)! He has now flown the coop and ventured into film - which isn't all that far fetched, due to his amazing eye for the dramatic.  I think that many designers loose sight of what is "fashionable" and cater way to much to the Hollywood/society elite.  Designers should realize that ordinary folks like the fantasy of Hollywood, and not necessarily the celebrities who wear the clothes.  Hey, I want like the glamour of Diana Ross...I don't want to BE Diana Ross! Give me the fantasy on a plate that says "Here, common person, you can have this." Maybe there isn't just one who leads the pack.  Maybe they are all struggling to get ahead just like the rest of us.

Lara Stone Blackface Photos: Paris Vogue Sparks Controversy | The News is NowPublic.com

Lara Stone Blackface Photos: Paris Vogue Sparks Controversy | The News is NowPublic.com

Let me say that I think of Vogue as THE Bible of fashion and well, all things wonderful...and that Paris is where I want to live out my days when I get tired of the States.  (I am thinking of getting a nice little apartment not far from Coco Chanel's studio!) However, when I got a look at the pictures at the center of the controversy surrounding model Lara Stone "blacked out" for the photo shoot, I had to give myself a bitch slap.

The artistry of the magazine itself is always avant guard and leap years ahead of the mainstream fashion rags, but when you take the time and energy to put black makeup all over a model (well ok, maybe it didn't take that long with her weighing less than a build a bear stuffed animal), you could very well have had a dark-skinned model of African or Caribbean descent ready to go!  I don't get why dark-skinned models are not "fashionable" to use in person, but when it comes to shooting an artistic photo the white models are "Africanized" through makeup, apparel or accessories.  Hell, they could have asked Naomi Campbell to do the shoot since she is quite the walker and darker than any of the new mannequins on the scene now.  Personally, I believe that Naomi Campbell will be walking the runway at 65 while the other chicks will be on their second child or their second stint of rehab.

Anyway, I have some advice for the Bible editors worldwide...you don't have to be afraid of the black models! The black makeup that you use on a white model is so lame...it doesn't even look like a real color! The natural hue of a black model is wonderful against any backdrop...and it's cheaper to use makeup on their face as opposed to the whole body! Wise up people.  Make the catwalk look like the world and not some D.W. Griffith atrocity.